Kirrta arrives with two other hens from Shrilk, with a third member of the clan flying escort. The four circle a couple of times off to the east of the festival, then come in for a landing. The care with which they land is understandable... each carries a slinglike bag, heavily laden. The narrow wings of their falconic forms doesn't allow them to carry anywhere near as much as a Windhaven, or even a Grylra might, but they still manage a respectable amount.
Ceylana walks between each of the three huge fire display pits, checking each one. The area in between each has been cleared out, especially in the direct lines connecting the three pits. Each stone circle and the stones lining the inside have been painted with odd markings in reds, yellows and oranges. From a distance, especially above, it looks like flames have been intricately painted on the rocks. It isn't until one gets up close that the flames become clear. Ceylana shoos away any who try to get near the pits, a couple extra Windhaveners helping with the mock guard duty. The head mage in particular is paying much attention to the paint, as if watching something. But the paint appears to be quite dry and nothing is happening. A cool breeze flies by though.
Stormrider rests, his head cocked a little, watching Ceylana, feathers ruffling a little with the breeze.
Kirrta shrugs out of the carry sling harness, as do the other two, the male continuing to circle overhead. The scarred and battered hen leaves her wingmates to start unloading their cargo of firepots, while she goes to investigate the intriguing designs that have been drawn onto the great firepit that's closest to where they landed, her head held high as she tries to get a good look at it.
Other gryphons have already gathered near the huge fire pits, curious as to what the Windhaveners have planned for tonight. The few Windhaveners who are standing guard let them near enough to look, but don't let anyone close enough to try touching them. They warn that it's dangerous to mess with it but that they can look all they like. Ceylana seems to be quite distracted as she goes from pit to pit, looking in at the paint and then moving on to the others. What different she sees is anybody's guess.
The feathers and fur along Kirrta's back prickle and raise as she comes closer... fire... ahhhh... this is fire. Even if she can't see it, she can feel it. She gapes her beak and hissses slowly, her sharp vision tracing the lines, the drawn shapes, the colors... cruel, vibrant images of terrible things flickering in her mind. Her pupils pin, only accentuating the bloody-gold color of her eyes, and she stares, fixated, for quite some time. Imagining screaming, and burning, and death.
Stormrider just watches, for the momment, he does spot Kirrta and nods to her, though it would probably be unnoticed by Kirrta.
Two more Windhaveners step into the empty triangular space kept clear by the others to stand with Ceylana as she leaves the pits to go talk to them. The three talk for a bit, gestures and pointing are made between the three pits and the ground and air. Not casting, just directions, it seems.
Kirrta finally remembers to do things like... blink. And then breath. And then she gives a sharp spitting, hissing sound, and backs away slowly, before forcing herself to turn away from the hypnotizing promise of her favorite element. She tongues her beaktip slowly as she looks around, glaring at any who dare come too close, searching for a likely person to trade Shkrill's expertly crafted firepots to. But her gaze keeps flicking back over her shoulder, to the activity around the fire rings. She's definitely going to be here tonight. Oh yessss.
Ceylana nods to the two gryphons she is speaking with and then walks off, trusting her subordinates to take care of the pits for now. Said subordiantes spread out to the gryphons guarding the pits and talk to them. Afterwards, one steps beck to the center of the empty triangle of space and skrees for attention. He looks around and says loud and clear in common, "The disply will be done later tonight after it is well dark. There is nothing to see here, so go enjoy the rest of the festival. We will announce when we are ready to begin. Thank you." The Windhaveners remain, guarding the pits and the designs inside.
Kirrta growls irritably, frustrated that things... and hopefully people, aren't going to be bursting into flame soon... but night will be better. Fire is always better at night. She sighs, and shakes her head a little... then the pyrophilic hen stalks over to the now carefully unpacked stack of firepots, grabs one up, and moves off to find a buyer, or buyers.
A pair or rowdy red-spined dragons try to make a scene by catcalling the gryphons in charge of the drawn fire. A grey one says, "You call that fire! Come back to Argalia and we'll show you FIRE, ha!" His brown companion adds, "Yeah, come visit and we'll even introduce you to our firey home. Viktiss would show you what true fire is!" Both start laughing as they walk off when they get no response from the stoic Windhaveners.
Jenna makes a round of the stalls she has open, checking them, and making sure everything is running well, reviewing what's been sold, and with what it's been paid for, before wandering over to inspect the three main firepits, she vaguely recognizes the shkrill hen, and waves a wing in that direction.
New to the body and culture of the gryphon, the goshawk-winged female's response to the dragons was less saturnine. Both wings raised themselves from along her spine, primaries splayed as she watched the retreating reptiles with bright, ink-drop eyes. Clacking her beak, Ja'hira quickly plopped her haunches back, sitting so as to keep herself from causing trouble. She found that being stationary was the safest thing in most situations; if only she coud find a way to keep her mouth shut, she'd be set.
In the merchant's area, a unicorn is selling statuettes and different pottery items. Jars, holders, plates, mugs, pots and other such ceramic items adorn her shop. A small sign in both Kefetuan and common state her name and buisness.
Kirrta glares irritably at Ja'hira's display, finding it a little amusing. She stares for a few moments, wondering if this one would be worth stealing away to Crag... but then gets her mind back on more immediate business, and starts skreeking "FIREPOTS! Finest SHKRILL firepots!" as she stalks through the festival. She hisses and stops short as she recognizes Jenna... her eyes narrow, and she prowls over closer to the Windhaven trader.
Ceylana let's herself finally relax and walk around through the crowds. She decides to head near the merchant's area, see what they have, if anything catches her eye. It wasn't what she expected, but something does catch her eye. Okay, more of a someone, but still. Padding up to Ja'hira she looks at her and says, "Hello there. I do not believe I have seen you around here before." Her tone is quiet and friendly enough.
Jenna nods to Kirrta, her head cocking a little, she chuckles softly as she watches Kirrta attempting to hawk her wares, and waits to see what happens, she rouses a little as she sees Kirrta stalking towards her, settling her feathers and waiting for the shkrill to come to her.
Ja'hira was on her paws in seconds, curiosity aroused by the mention of fire, but Ceylana's interruption stopped her from trotting off in that direction. Lowering back down into her seated position, the rust-and-gold gryphoness let her beak open -- then shut -- before responding."That'd be 'cause I'm new 'round 'ere." It was neither here nor there whether this was a polite response. She had an offhand air to her when she spoke, and generally gave the curtesy of looking others in the eyes when she talked.
Ceylana looks Ja'hira directly back in the eye as she nods slowly, "Then allow me to welcome you to Shrilk. My name is Ceylana Zenari. And you are?" She still retains the polite attitude, no sign of taking offense to the tone given her yet.
Kirrta has done adequately selling the firepots... especially as the nights get colder... but she doesn't have the patience... or the manner... to do well. She's more inclined to simply bully people into trading for the pots, and it's just not very effective. She comes up to Jenna, and holds the firepot up before the freakish albino hen. "You want to trade for these," she croaks, turning her claw to show off the firepot. It's actually of very high quality, very well made, and carefully constructed. Very functional as a source of light and heat. Or, as the Shkrill used them for years... as a way of raining fire and death down on their opponents. There's a reason why Kirrta's official position remains Grenadier.
Ruffling the feathers around her neck, she settles slightly, "Ji'hara Swiftstrike." Primly, like an old, regal cat, her forepaws were tucked together, squaring her shoulders back and keeping her head up, almost as if she's sitting at attention. With her great, deep chest and stocky, powerful build, the creamy, lioness half of her body is formidable looking -- and the goshawk half isn't something you'd want to poke at either. Fortunately, she has some small measure of self control, especially when speaking to those who seem in command of themselves. Militant, some might call her attitude.
Y'lyandra wanders in, yet again, from the sleeping area. No backward glances this time. She strolls out as she should, uncaring who or what may be watching her. A first for her, this entire festival. She walks with an air of relief, as well, stopping and joking amiably with some of the Mythrayalian traders that she accompanied on the trek to the festival. Wandering around, she spends some time browsing at several vendors.. an Argalian book trader here, a... something from.. somewhere selling some sort of... object.. here. Danged if she can tell what they are, but she doesn't care. Her first true night of freedom during the festival, and she intends to make the best of it.
Jenna cocks her head and examines the firepot, then reaches for it, for a closer examination, "Humm, it might have value, how many do you have that you wish to sell? How fragile are they? If I can arrange to sell them outsphere would you be able to provide me more, on contract?"
Ceylana inclines her head slowly to Ja'hira. "A pleasure it is to meet you, Ja'hira." She looks up at the pyramid looming over everything and asks, "I take it you have just recently arrived in Shrilk altogether from up there?" Being new to the area and being a New One are two diferent things. Always safe to check first.
Ja'hira cocks her head to train a single, anthracite eye on the peak of the pyramid. "Up there. Aye." The faint bob of her head seems to reinforce the notion for her, though she hasn't yet given any hint of being unsure of herself, or lost. Merely subtely disgruntled, as demonstrated by her obtuse greeting to the other female.
Kirrta rrrs suspiciously for a moment, then gives the firepot over. She can just beat up the other hen and take it back, if she needs to. She cocks her head back a little and chrrs... "I have at least thirty, right here, today. They're strong... we flew them from Crag without padding. I destroy all the cracked ones." She snakes her head from side to side a bit, looking Jenna over. She remembers this one, vaugly... from that very bad time in Windhaven... and some other times after. "How many would you want, contrrract?"
Jenna shakes her head a little, examining the pot carefully, lifting it testing its weight. She pulls a magnifying glass from her pouch and looks closly over the pot, then hands it back, "And what would you want for the 30 you have?" She rouses her feathers a little, "And on contract will depend on how well they sell, and what you would want for them. If I can make no profit from them there is little reason for me to buy them. I am also a fair trader, if the market is very good, I would probly end up increasing the amount I would pay for them. After all, its only fair."
Ceylana motions to the merchant's area with a wing. "Care to join me for a walk? I do so enjoy company at times and you look as if you could use a friend right about now." She takes a step towards her destination, but pauses and looks at Ja'hira to see if she will follow or stay and watch others first. Her choice, Ceylana will not push it.
Y'lyandra simply wanders, stopping at one of the Centaur traders and purchasing a glass of some amber liquid, which she proceeds to take a healthy swig of. She wanders back near the firepits, peering over the guard at the designs in them. They look the same from earlier this morning, although the paint has dried now, it appears. Beaming a smile at the "guards", she makes her way to more vendors, sampling a little bit here and there. As she scans the crowd, she *thinks* she sees the talented gryphoness who painted the rocks this morning, but at this distance, she isnt' sure..
Kirrta has a very hard time with the idea of fair... beyond enforcing what you agree on. That's fair, to her... and the idea of getting paid MORE, for not doing any more work, is actually sort of unsettling. She takes the pot carefully, looking it over for a moment, then back at Jenna. "Glass vials," she croaks, "And thread. Heavy thread. Four vials, and twenty long spools thread, for the whole thirty." This is really approaching the highest numbers Kirrta can deal with comfortably.
"I look that pitiful, 'uh? Aye, well, fair enough." Rising in a single, fluid motion she pads along after the other hen, her stride sinuous and held low to the ground; even casual, she still walks with the bearing of a hunter, and one who's highly protective of themselves due to feeling foreign. Rusty, black-barred wings tight against her sides and shoulders low, she steals a furative glance across at Ceylana as she comes up beside her, her black eyes unreadable. "So, seems yer 'avin' some type 'o fancy 'ullaballo 'ere. Guess I came just in time." Dry sarcasm being her forte, she uses it often, staring straight ahead for the most part.
Jenna cocks her head a little, then nods, "What sort of vials?" She asks, after all, there are many diferrent types of vials, and thread would not be a problem, she even has some here at the festival, though she does not know if it's heavy enough, "Come over the the stall with me and I will show you the thread I have, and you can see if its acceptable for you?"
Ceylana looks back at her new companion. "Yes, you are quite fortunate to arrive during the winter festival. It is a closing of the harvest time and a welcoming of the cold winter. It was first started by Grylra aerie and they have expanded it to not only include the other two aeries, Windhaven and Shkrill, but to all gryphons and other races alike." As if to make a point, a bawdy wench of a tigress belts out from her stall, "Get yor' lamb shanks 'ot and tasty here!"
Ja'hira clacks her beak dryly, "My kind 'o place. So, what about these 'aerie' things? What's Grylra?" Winter, for her, translates to a shortage of food and heat; lean days and miserable nights. Good thing, then, that she found someone who knows the area; with a little luck she might be able to insinuate herself into a trade and begin earning her keep.
Kirrta holds her claws up, indicating something about six inches tall, and three to four inches across. "For healers herbs and drugs," she croaks, "The kind that seals up tight." She bobs her head slightly, and walks alongside Jenna... irritated to let a Windhaven lead... but it's also a good place to strike from... so she takes comfort in that, at least.
Jenna leads Kirrta to one of the six stalls she has here at the festival, and takes her inside, with some rummaging, she digs out a few different spools of thread, offering them to Kirrta to look at, "Would you mind telling me what the thread is to be used for? I might be better able to match what I have to what you need then."
Ceylana was expecting such a question and has no problems answering as a teacher would a student. "Aeries are large groups of gryphons who have formed a community somewhere and work together as one big family. Each has it's own intricacies and beliefs in how things should be run, but in the end it is simply a community. Grylra is the name of one, as are Windhaven and Shkrill. Everyone does their duty in supporting the aerie as a whole, while retaining a sense of individuality. Usually." She looks at the booths as she and Ja'hira walk past them.
Sharrah strolls into the festival grounds, a touch more confident now that she has managed to go so far undetected for the past few days. This time she has several bulky shapes in a carry harness on her back, bundled in a light deerhide pouch. After glancing around suspiciously she moves off a bit towards one side of the encampment - she watches strangers closely, but especially avoids any faces that seem familiar until she is on the edge of the crowds.
Karee gapes her beak and yawns widely as she makes her way from out of the sleeping area, giving herself a shake then mantling her wings once more. She blinks a bit getting her eyes get used to light before starts making her way around, looking around at the various booths.
Kirrta glances at a passing centaur, sizing her up for how many meals she could provide to herself, her mate, and her child... "For tying up stuff... like herbs, and cloth." She looks at the different kinds, growling faintly. This is getting more complicated than she likes, but... it would be good to get just the right kinds. "Like this... and like this... ten of each?" One is loose, coarse twine, the other much finer and thinner, like a thick thread.
Sharrah lashes her tail slowly, considering, she slips off the heavy packs from her back, slowly slipping off the covering to reveal three elaborate carvings, they are a good size, each perhaps ten pounds. Each is noticeably more refined than the next, but all are serviceable, though the first would be considered... rustic. She is towards the end of the vendors' aisle. She spreads out the sack into more of a blanket and places the woodwork on top, then hunches down behind, to watch...
Jenna bobs her head a little, "Considering your wishing for ways to store herbs and the like, would you also be interested in different healing herbs from shrilk, and from outside of shrilk? Do your healers ever sew together cuts? If so, I have thread that would be just right for that as well." As she speaks she gathers the requested thread, stacking them on a crate near to Kirrta, "Ok, 10 of the twine, and 10 of the other, plus the jars, humm, lets see...." She digs around some more, and finaly pulls out a couple of jars that are about 3 inches diamiter, and 6 tall, with a glass top, held on and latched by steel wire, and a rubber seal, "This work for your jars?"
Ja'hira holds this information as she might hold meat in her crop before digesting it,"Sounds luverly. So, 'ow do I get myself employed at one of those aerie things?" Surprisingly, for someone so enterprising-minded, she avoids looking into the shops, either out of disinterest or some hidden purpose. Behind her, the tufted length of her tail curls and twitches, the dark tuft on it whispering through the air.
Khasra wanders through the huge festival, keeping an eye out for his mate--he'd heard she was here now. A careful eye stays on his son, too, however.. investigating everything, though Khasra keeps him on a short leash. The noise and sights and smells are almost overwhelming for the little gryphlet!
Kirrta nods a little, stepping back one stride. "They do, but I don't know what kindsa stuff they would want. That's not what I do... This kind of stuff will be fine. They want something, they can come get it. Or send someone for it." Of course... that someone may be her next time, but she'll worry about that when it happens. Like pretty much everything. She's pretty much right out in the open, so it would be easy for Khasra to spot her... but all her attention is focussed on Jenna right now.
Sharrah stays hunkered down - not withdrawn, precisely, but at the same time... her posture doesn't encourage the average wanderer to look at her wares, either. She has never been a merchant, and as a consequence she isn't a particularly good one.
Ceylana stops and looks back at Ja'hira and shakes her head, "No, no my dear. An aerie is like one big family. You don't get hired in. One is invited to join by those in charge. I believe all three aeries have a fairly open policy for new ones such as yourself. Just find the aerie you think is appropriate for you and ask to join in. As for work, I can promise you that there is never a lack of that." Still nothing really catches her eye in the vendor's stalls yet.
Jenna bobs her head a little, "Will these jars be good for your vials?" She asks again, showing the jar again, then she turns, and Kirrta contemplates the jar, and collects a couple of different things, mostly some basic medical suplies, with the included directions, not a lot, more a collection of samples than anything else, she puts it all in a bag and offers that to Kirrta, "Here, I want you to give this to your healers, tell them if they want more of any of the items in the bag, to come to Windhaven and talk to me."
Keereth watches the crowed, then with a slight nod, she stands and starts wondering the rows of stalls, shes a little bored, and the others she brought with her can take care of the gryplet for the time being.
Ja'hira pauses with one fore-leg outstreched, her talons just barely touching the ground."I don't do brain-work. I do physical labor, fighting, hunting, hauling. I need a place I can do these things in exchange for board and keep." Another step is taken in her unusual, slinking way, then she stops completely and hunches forward, her hindlegs gathered under her and her spine pronouncedly curved as she crouches her shoulders down like a carrion crow over a dead mouse.
Kirrta watches Jenna curiously... giving more than was asked for? That's just... weird. Suspicious and strange. "The vials are fine..." she croaks, "I... don't know about trade directly with you." She seems fairly nervous about the idea, not wanting to get involved with anything like that again.
Jenna bobs her head a little, "Or they can come to the place where the centaurs used to have that building, I took it over, and am using it for trade, some things ship easier via water, than over land, after all." She pulls for more of the jars out, and hands them over to Kirrta, then with a chuckle she grabs another item from the healing stuff, its more or less a spool of thread, but, thread that's designed to melt away after about 2 weeks so stiches do not have to be removed, "Oh, here, this is the thread I was thinking your healers might like, give that to them too please." She grins a little, "Just bring the firepots to this stall, and we can exchange everything.
Khasra moves up and down the rows of tents, indulging Hokuten as he plays among a few wares.. peering into empty baskets and breathing in strong raw spices until he sneezes.
Ceylana stops near a merchant's tent. The flaps are pulled aside and gryphons as well as a few other creatures can be seen both inside and just in front, having their feathers painted or other body parts painted in intricate designs. Ceylana says, "That sort of job is always in high demand by all aeries. Not only that, but it is a necessary staple to survive out here on your own if you wish to do so." She looks inside the tent as she hears her name called. "If you will excuse me, I am needed inside. Look around and study everything you see. Ask questions and do not be afraid to stand up for yourself, although I don't think that will be a problem for you." Her eyes glint with amusement at the thought as she inclines towards Ja'ira once more. "Until later, Ja'hira. Good day."
Kirrta gives her head a little shake... Jenna is definitely making her feel very strange by offering things unasked for... is there some kind of secret obligation she's adding? "Alright..." she rasps reluctantly. "I'll take it to them." With warnings about where it came from, and the circumstances. It will be used on one of the lower ranking injured first.
Ja'hira bobs her head in a vague nod before rising and stalking off among the stalls, pausing occasionally to peek in at the wares, although there's a certain lack of curiosity in her eyes for what they might be. With her shuffling stride, she continues around, putting her beak everywhere without drawing attention to herself; her shoulders always bunched forward as if protectively.
Sharrah glances to the side, watching a tumbling gryphlet, for a moment she almost gives a pleased beak-gape... then her look darkens as she sees the one watching over the gryphlet. Hrf. She glances away again before she's noticed.
Jenna is not too worried about who it's used on first, after all, if she had wanted to harm shkrill, she could have offered jars made of a poisionus material, or worse, she mearly is attempting to advertise some of what she has available, and healers are the ones most likly to break rules to get things to help them in their tasks, "I ask no more of you. If they find these few items of use, I would be glad to sell more to them."
Khasra chuckles and herds Hokuten back out of the spice seller's booth. He's obviously enjoying himself as much as the gryphlet is, his feathers ruffling proudly whenever comments on how cute or handsome the chick is meet his ears.
Kirrta bobs her head slightly. "I'll have the rest of the firepots brought over... at least thirty... always pack a couple extra in case one breaks." There will be 31, total... and the hen who's load was cracked will recieve a sound cuffing and berating to do better next time.
Jenna nods, "Good enough, it was good trading with you, perhaps we do not always have to fight, humm?" As she speaks she starts packing up everything, making sure the jars are carefully, and well packed, they are stong, but, glass can be pretty strange, cracking at the lightest touch, or withstanding a hammer blow, including the threads and the rest, she makes it all up into one package, that should not be all that hard to handle.
Y'lyandra has, by this time, frequented yet another Mythrayelian ale tent, and has refilled her mug with more of the amber liquid, and resumed her strolling. She gives the occasional nod to anyone who happens to look at her, and hums a small tune under her breath.
Kirrta nods sharply. "They'll pick it up, so you know the right number of pots come." It would be crazy to let her just walk away with the bundle, without the trade items being in touch, after all! "Fighting is good... but maybe not all the time." She has to admit... strange as the festival is to her... it's kind of grown on her. Last year it just made her itch. This year... it's... kind of neat. So much to see and do. Now, if only Khasra were here... and Hokuten! He'd love to see a place like this... into everything, such a bold little explorer!
Jenna bobs her head a little, "Just see the person at the front of the stall, he will check the pots, and give you your goods. It's been a pleasure trading with you." She has to grin a little, 31 pots, forget what thay are used for, elsesphere she may be able to get a fair amount for them, if she offers them as art deco objects, or otherwise, she will have to see what she can get for them, but, she is serious, she will be fair, if she gets a lot more than she expects, she will increase what she pays for them.
Khasra follows the chick's meandering path.. right toward the.. carving merchant. Hokuten puts his little claws on one of the larger pieces, examining it with a critical eye as Khasra joins him. "I think he likes that o--" The words die on his lips as he catches Sharrah's eye. There's a long pause, then he continues. "--that one."
Y'lyandra stretchs, and, hearing something from off to the side, wanders back over to the sleeping area.
Sharrah narrows her eye and meets Khasra - there is no doubt she has been recognized. She is in 'disguise', but any who knew her well would see through it instantly - merely a good featherpainting job, and the fact that most of her old accomplices don't know she's alive, or that she has lost an eye and part of her tail. "Yes?" She rumbles softly, "Well, it is a fine carving, well suited to a youngling." It is a carved building - quite an elaborate structure, with a multi-domed roof, and four great towers on each side... the work is detailed, even to the gryphon shapes built into the archways - seeming to hold the roof upon their wings. Few alive would recognize it - it is a model of the great library of Raenlocke.
Ja'hira lifts her head slightly and picks up her pace, concentrating on making a full circle of the stalls so she can return to where she heard the one gryphon selling fire-pots. For the first time since she started exploring the festival she seems to have relaxed, her wings spreading ever so slightly outwards, and her neck-feathers ruffling out as she moves at her brisque pace.
Kirrta rrrs, nodding slightly. "They'll be here, Jenna. You know our honor." She turns, shaking her head... that was a very strange transaction. But very profitable for Crag... that makes her happy. Her usual cold stalking movements are left behind, and she trots along somewhat more easily, lighter of foot, as she heads back to where she left the other three Shkrill, to guard the stockpile of firepots.
Kyriah wakes slowly, blinking around at the white world and the strange things in it. He skrees! spying lots of sparkly objects /everywhere/.
Khasra rumbles softly and pulls Hokuten away before he gnaws on the spires. "What is it a model of?" he asks. "It looks a bit familiar."
Kosamiargi yawns slightly...and snaps awake. Rrf? Great, wonderful place to fall asleep... The black drake raises, grumbling quietly as he streeeetches out his limbs and wings, before giving a firm shake of body. A bit of fluff and down settles away from his body, and he begins on his way again, to see what else this festival might have to offer...
Sharrah glances up at Khasra thoughtfully, then, "Nothing of particular note." she murmers after a moment... meeting his gaze with her one eyed stare, her expression neutral.
Ja'hira slows her fast-moving pace as she approaches the area where the hen was announcing her wares earlier, her beak to the wind as she glances around with her dark, depthless eyes at the grounds, her haunches curled under her as she sits and ponders a moment on her dilemma.
Jenna chuckles softly as she watches Kirrta leave, then leaving instructions with the one tending the stall she heads back out to enjoy the festival.
Kyriah rolls away from his mother and pricks his little ears. He Caws? and tilts his head to look around. He looks for the nearest shiney thing or fluttery bit to catch his attention. Hmm... what will recieve his attack first.
Khasra glances around all the sculptures. "Did you make them?"
Y'lyandra strolls back from the sleeping area, this time with another mare. Her small height virtually dwarfed by the large draft Centauress, she nonetheless walks comfortably with her companion. "At least Adam is out of my hair, thank the Maker.." is heard from her as she approaches the main festival area.
Sharrah clucks softly, then answers, "Yes, I did." Perhaps the most carefully done of the lot, another one is of a gryphon taking down a four point buck, his head lifting upwards, lips parted in mid cry, the gryphons wings caught in downwards beat - melding around his body, as the gryphons beak is closing about the hapless creature's throat.
Khasra rumbles softly as he gently turns the hunting gryphon from side to side. He's got a bit of an eye for carving, as he does a little himself, but nothing that captures this kind of action so vividly. "It's very good," he rumbles.. "Anyone in particular?"
Sharrah chuckles softly, "Hrrrf, no. Just a vivid... drrream, I once had.." She replies with a small shake of her head, she seems pleased at the compliment however, shifting her weight ducking her head a little - what game is this drake playing at with her?
Kosamiargi blinks a bit as he spots Keereth...and his son! Well well, seems more than he came to see what was going on. He leans down, and carefully stalks around, getting close but keeping out of eyesight. Gently, he coos, a sound Kyriah would know well..
Kyriah blinks, then turns to see who is calling him. He recognizes the black drake right of. He skree!S and leaps at Koko, forgetting for the moment that the ground is not normal, but rather this compacting cold stuff. *Puft!* he vanishes from sight, only to pop back up from an oddly shaped depression in the snow. He looks around and chirrts? he lost sight of Koko.
Keereth 's atention is immediately snatched by Kyriah's skree, her head whiping around to see what would make him cry out like so, upon spoting Kosa, she narrows her eyes a little, and waits for him to come to her.
Tzephyrina trots out after Y'lyandra, her hooves beating a heavy staccatto on the ground. Just watching her, it's easy to see why it took her longer to move out of the sleeping areas than it did the other mare -- her horse half is massive, thickly muscled, like a Shire or Clydesdale. Sweeping her docked tail against her rump, she catches up with her employer and mills around silently, her bright, blue eyes scanning over the contents of the stalls.
Kosamiargi chortles, and leans up to suddenly be right in front of Kyriah, and beaktap to him. "You're such a little energy ball, hmm?" He glances up, giving a nod toward Keereth as well. "He hasn't been driving you -too- nuts, has he?"
Keereth shakes her head, "No, he has been enjoying the snow though.
Khasra admires the sculpture for a bit longer. "How much is it?" he asks finally, keeping the gryphlet between his foreclaws.
Sharrah watches Khasra thoughtfully, warily, "Make me an offerrrr." She rumbles finally, leaving him guessing...
Khasra rumbles softly... He may have an eye for art, but appraisals are another matter. "Hrrr.. Ten pelts?"
Sharrah hrfs softly, "Do you have any gems?" She inquires hopefully - she's hoping to acquire some for future designs...
Y'lyandra waits for the other mare, then continues her strolling through the vendors, occasionally pointing something out to the larger centauress.
Nefer pads in quietly from the direction of the Grylra aerie, her creamy fur nearly blending in with the piles of snow before she hits the walkway. Goggled eyes peer at the abundance of vendors, not to mention the wide variety of creatures who are milling about the area.
Khasra fluffs his feathers and chuckles. "In fact, I do.." He tips a few specimens out of his neck pouch. "They're an.. interest of mine," he rumbles, showing them to the hen. "None of these are worth more than about twenty pelts at best, but.."
Sharrah picks through the collection offered to her by Khasra with a careful eye - then selects a red ruby, it's a very small one, perhaps the size of the tip of a pencil, just a fleck of a gem... "Hrrf. Do you have, two, like this one?"
Tzephyrina keeps a steady canter at her boss's side, using the accentuation of her long neck to peer at the wares being offered. "You know, I wonder what kind of textiles they have around here." Always thinking in lofty terms, Reeny glances over to Y'lyandra for an answer; she was thinking of buying some cloth for a new shirt.
Khasra rumbles softly, grinding his beak a little. "No," he admits after a few seconds, "but I can probably find a match here.." He rubs his beak a little. "Or if you'd rather, I can give you its match's worth in other gems. For eyes?"
Sharrah nods, "Yes." She agrees at that witha little rumble, "For eyes... hrrf. Red works well, but I would accept blue or green." She agrees, leaning back a little.
Y'lyandra nods her head, and allows Reeny to take the lead. She hasn't seen much of the festival, aside from her little excursions now and again. "They had a Rolarii selling some sort of cloth, I thought I saw.." She gestures vaguely in the direction of the market stalls. "It was by a bookseller, I think.." She realizes she's not being much help, so simply contents herself to letting the larger mare lead for the time being.
Khasra hmmms and pushes a couple of sapphire chips out of the pile. "How about these?"
Tzephyrina taps her mouth with a fingertip,"We can forget about the cloth for now. I'm sure we'll stumble across it later anyway." Glancing around, she tries to find the painting stall, using her height advantage over everyone else to look over the rows of items, tents, and piles. "What happened to your original assistant, anyway?"
Sharrah considers the offering thoughtfully, "Rrrrm." She murmers, looking them over, "All right." She holds out a forepaw to accept the sapphire chips...
Y'lyandra nods her head, then pulling a face at the mention of her "original assistant". "You met Adam earlier, right?" She doesn't wait for the confirming nod, but continues on, her glance straying to the different wares on her side. "He met with a.. aah.. unfortunate accident, and is going to return to Mythrayel with the Caravan after the festival.
Nefer makes her way through the vendors, pausing here and there to barter for a few items which get tucked away in her pouch slung around her neck - mostly herbs and such for what little magic is allowed her in these distant spheres. Sharp eyes watch the others as they mill about, shopping just the same as she is.
Khasra scoops up the chips and drops them in Sharrah's claw, putting the rest back in the pouch.
Sharrah accepts them delicately, tucking them into a pouch of her own, "Thank you, hrrr." She glances down at the carving, as though of a sudden sorry to see it go, then again... it is a fair trade, even though the gems are only slivers, they will let her produce more valuable work.
Khasra scoops it up with a soft chirp. "You're a very good artist," he says softly, admiring the work again.
Sharrah nods, "I had a hand at wood working... once..." She murmers, "I remembered more than I thought I would."
Tzephyrina snorts loudly, "Good riddance. I never met anyone so ignorant." Bending down, she stops at a pottery stall and picks up a few of the jars, inspecting them with a critical, bombardier blue eye; the other closed tightly.
Sharrah flushes slightly however at the compliment, now that Khasra has made his purchase - she's increasingly worried his lingering presence will attract other, older shkrill, who might recognize her.
Y'lyandra chuckles, her tail flicking lightly against her hind legs as she nods her head. "Was also my assessment.." She glances over at the pottery in Reeny's hand, and hm'd, nose wrinkling slightly at the design.. not entirely to her taste.. "I'm not sure what possessed me to bring him along.. i honestly should have known better."
Nefer pauses at one booth, looking through the offered material, her eye out for something warm for the human companion in her group. Goggled eyes look over each bolt of cloth, carefully testing it with a clawed paw before choosing a deep burgandy cloth with a navy blue design around the edges. Turning to the vendor, she nods to it, and the bartering begins between the two. Finally, a price is agreed, and the Raigaa becomes the owner of the bolt of cloth.
Khasra flicks his tail and bobs his head.. "Good evening, Sharrah," he says softly, baiting Hokuten along with the carving.
Sharrah glances up, eyes widening a touch in surprise at a -thing-... a huge lionlike creature that shuffles around, the size of a bear... She clacks her beak lightly closed again after a moment, and looks away well, there's lots of queer creatures at the festivals usually, but she's never seen anything quite like that before.
Sharrah narrows her eyes at Khasra, "Good night." She murmers in a softer tone - and means it, that brush was close enough. She goes about packing the two other carvings into the deerhide sack.
Ceylana steps back out eventually from the back of the featherpainter's stall. She looks around and decides to go finish her stroll through the merchant's area before she's needed for the festivities soon. She nears the end of one row and sees some beautiful carvings set out on a simple blanket. She comes closer for a better look and pauses when she hears a name said.
The sky begins the slow descent into darkness as the second sun finally sets, only it's lingering glow lighting up the festival grounds. Magelights are set loose and torches go up to light the way once dark fully sets. This, however, has not hindered the merchants in the least. They begin lighting lamps, lanterns and setting out magelights for customers to see their wares by.
Nefer pads away from the vendor who's agreed to hold the bolt of cloth until later, leaving the Raigaa free to shop some more. She knows well the strange looks she's garners from some of the natives - especially those clans she and her mate have not had the chance to visit yet in their explorations of the sphere. Still, she's polite, her common spoken in clear, yet accented, tones as she makes her way along the path she's chosen which leads her towards Sharrah and the small group of gryphons gathered there. As the light fades from the sky above, she paws off the goggles, leaving them to hang about her neck with her satchel, her topaz eyes glittering in the magelights.
Ceylana pulls back as the drawings are taken away. This "merchant" is done for the day it seems. She looks up to take a good look at the gryphoness before her with more of a look of calm curiosity than vile hatred, for she knows more about the past of a gryphoness named Sharrah than many think. Could this be the same female?
Khasra keeps Hokuten closer as he makes his way toward Kirrta's tent, or where he thinks it is.. and finally, there--the firepots, and behind them, the hen he's been searching for! He points her out to his chick, who dashes off after her with a squeal!
Ja'hira stretches her back legs out, unsheathing the ebony ripping-chistle claws for a moment due to the tension of the tendons and muscles. Shaking herself as she relaxes, the goshawk gryphon trundles off to continue her search for the fire-pot seller.
Kirrta is sitting patiently, just watching others come and go... until she hears the squeal of her little one. "Hokuten!" she squawks, turning... just in time to get knocked over by the pouncing chick... "Aaa! You're getting big!" she laughs, tumbling and playing. She looks up, and grins very wide at Khasra, when she spots him... she knew he had to be around close!
Sharrah finishes packing her things - and slips out as quietly as she came, to the northwards...
Khasra pads into the stall too, chuckling. "Isn't he, though?" he grins. "How's business?" Clutched casually in his claw he has a beautiful wood carving of a gryphon at the moment of making a kill on a deer.
Ja'hira slinks over to the fire-pot stall, sitting down infront of it with her hindlegs folded beneath her, and her foreones placed neatly together. Obsidian eyes watch the family of gryphons, unblinking and flat. For now she merely sits silently, possibly just waiting to be noticed.
Nefer takes her time, looking over each booth as she pads by, her eyes seeing just fine in the dimlight of night - better perhaps, now that she doesn't have to bother with the goggles.
Ceylana looks a little disapointed in this merchant she thinks might have been the Sharrah she had heard so much about. As Sharrah leaves, Ceylana feels it is better to leave her alone for now. Doesn't look like she's up for company nor questions right now. Ceylana sighs and heads back to look at a few more stalls before heading back to the firepits.
Kirrta bats at Hokuten, finally rolling him over and pinning him... for a moment, anyway, before letting him go again. "Pretty good... did a trade with some Windhaven for thirty of them... so I already had to have somebody go back and get more. I figured it would take all evening to sell just those... ohhh... that's nice..." she croaks, looking at the statue. "Wow... where'd you get that one?" For the moment, she only glances at Ja'hira... Khasra's more important to her right now, than just about anything.
Kosamiargi chuckles softly, as he flicks a bit of snow up into Kyriah's face, chittering down at the little gryphlet. "Not to cold for you, hmm?"
Khasra chuckles.. "I bought it from an artisan for a couple little sapphires.." He hands it to Kirrta with a proud grin.
Kyriah grins and sneezes it right back at Kosa, adding a little gryphkit special. He smiles, his eyes brillinat in the reflected snowlight.
Khasra nudges his mate with his beak. "You have a customer, though.."
Kosamiargi snickers softly at his son, and swiftly dives a talon under Kyriah...only to lift him up gently. "Well, sense it seems your mother decided to leave you with me, how about we go venture around, hmm?" He carefully settles the gryphlet onto his back, before stalking off...
Kyriah yips! as he is picked up, curling tightly around the talon, then snuggles down warmly into Kosa's plumage as he gets let go. His tiny butterclaws sink into feathers and skin, but do no damage and cause very little pain. He seems proud of his perch, rousing like a little king.
Kosamiargi is a bit slower and steadier, now with his gryphlet settled on the back, and can't help but laugh at Kyriah softly as he sees the young 'king' all floofed up.
Ja'hira fluffs her neck feathers, canting her head at an avian angle as she adjusts her wings and peers closer at the firepots, her black eyes belying a touch of curiosity, well guarded and bright.
Kyriah spreadeagles so that he can get better purchase as his father moves around. He skree!s and calls, chirrping loudly and proudly. He seems to have a really good sense of rhythm, and the sounds seem to have a musical feel to them. Is the child singing?
Kirrta oohs, and looks the sculpture over carefully, rousing a little bit. "It's nice..." she rasps, then looks again to Ja'hira. "Rrr... yesss..." She passes the carving back, then moves over, and croaks a fairly abrupt "Yes?"... she's really not a good salesgryph... but she knows her wares are the best ever crafted by any creature anywhere! ... or, at least, some of the best from Crag.
Ja'hira perks as she's addressed, and manages to focus her attention,"I'm interested in yer fire-thingies." The brightest spoon in the spoon drawer she might not be, but she knew what she liked, and fire was one of those things. Lifting a talon, she used it to indicate what she ment, her stotic expression remaining flatlined.
Kosamiargi shakes his head slightly as he trudges along, unable to hold back a gryn at his son's antics. Aye, a fun little bugger he is to have around. Koso himself rouses a bit, as he sees a certain Shkrill shop finally up, and makes his way over. With a singing gryphlet on his back.
Kirrta rrrs, looking the other hen over... as though she might not be worthy of owning one of her excellent firepots. "You know how they work?" she croaks, picking one up casually.
Ceylana stops to look at a merchant who is selling small decorated pouches made for gryphons and other quadrupedal creatures to wear around their necks to carry personal items in. This merchant, a Grylran, also has slingbags and other carrying equipment, both decorated and undecorated. Ceylana is interested in the smaller decorated ones.
Ja'hira returns the critical eyeing with her own jaundiced stare, neither looking away, nor putting too much effort into seeming defiant. "'Cause if ye were sellin' me broken wares I'd have t'come back and dislocate yer wings." Not a threat, just a fact.
Kyriah sings in the meaningless way that children talk, the tone bounces around widly, sounding more like a day at the carnival would feel than anything else. He tosses his head around and flutters his still flightless wings. His tail flicks, perhaps keeping time, perhaps he's just happy. It flicks in irregular rhythms, but that dosen't change a single note of his excitement.
Kirrta's pupils briefly pin, and her balance shifts, hindpaws flexing slightly, to very slightly pack the earth... just a little bit better purchase, if she should be given any excuse to slaughter this insignifcant, unscarred otherling. "I think," she croaks quietly, "You had better be telling me how sssure you are that these are the best you've ssseen."
Khasra leans over and burushes Kirrta warningly with a wingtip.
Kosamiargi slows down as he sees Kirrta busy with a customer. He settles down nearby, glancing back to his son again to watch the rather happy little gryphlet. "Whatever it was you ate...I want some, Kyriah."
Kyriah hiccups some sparly tinsel then continues to sing. His song never misses a beat, never repeats. Its like he's trying to talk, or sing. There are snips of words half heard, sounding more like some bizzare songbird who has learned just enough speach to sound funny.
Ja'hira remains where she is, still sitting as neat and still as a churchmouse on a pulpit. "Now why would I go and lie t'ye like that? 'Ow much do they cost?" Radiating calm, she holds the image of the other gryphoness in her ink-drop eyes, unflinching and unruffled. The only movement evident in the rust-and-cream hen is the flicker of her tail, which curls itself around her paws and talons, until she's the perfect picture of lethargic confidence.
Kirrta's claws clench, and she carefully puts the pot down before she shatters it... or uses it on this softling. She breaths very carefully, slow, deep... you could almost see her counting to ten, if gryphons did such a thing. "I'm not allowed to kill herrrr, am I, Khasra?" she growls, staring fixedly at Ja'hira.
Khasra shakes his head. "Nope, sorry..." he murmurs, as Hokuten pauses to watch, sensing the tension in the air.
Kyriah's singing is interrupted again as he hiccups more tinsel. Apparently the kit can't digest metal foil. Who knew? he picks right up singing when he stops hiccuping. His attention roams from the hens squaring off, to the louse he just spotted on kosa, to the silk tents. He quickly preens out the louse and then devides his attention equally between the silly hens and the shiny tents. Oooh, pretty!
Ja'hira blinks, once, then opens her beak, her chest trembling with her silent laughter. Lifting a taloned claw, she covers her mouth with it until she has the hiccup of amusement surpressed, then settles to return the other hen's stare."Well? How much -does- the pot cost?" Never one to let go of a line of questioning, she takes back to worrying -that- old bone, her eyes bright and mirthful.
Kosamiargi gives a little wiggle and roll, such that the gryphlet on his back has to slip and fall down from his back. The black drake, himself, watches the two hens quietly, just as easily noticing the tension building in the air...
Kirrta sighs heavily... well... maybe she'll be able to maim this annoying thing later. "For you... because you're so ... beautifully unmarked," she croaks, "Four good hides." Half again what she'd charge anyone else.
Kyriah eeeeeeks! one minute on his fathers' back, the next plummeting through the air to *BAMPH!* into the snow. A loud sneeze explodes from the hole tossing soft powder snow into the air. Shortly he pops his head up above his crater and leaps at Kosa. RAR! how dare his chair move! He attacks a talon with all the ferocity of a mouse and a grain of rice. *Gnaw* He gets no where fast, but it seems to occupy him.
Kosamiargi lets the gryphlet play, even helping to taunt him by shifting a foreleg around a bit. Eyes stay toward the hens, however, finding Kirrta's self control rather amazing...
Ja'hira chuckles, again, with no sound,"Fair enough. What kind 'o hides?" Unabashed at her own ignorance, the pale tawny hen lifts a hind leg and uses it to scratch just under a wing, looking as though such a pleasant interaction where part of her every day regime. Given enough time, she'd have her own impressive display of markings, but for now she was brash and willing to let everyone know it. Neither tact nor fear were in her vocabulary.
Kyriah tires of the claw after a few moments then spots the pots that caused all this trouble. WOW... they are glazed and pretty and... best of all shiny! He rolls over in a hurry, wings and legs all somehow in the right place at the right time to roll the ungainly kit over. He judges distance to the nearest pot and crouches.
Ceylana's attention is distracted when she hears the skree of the gryphlet nearby. She watches as he attacks the much larger male and then goes back to her shopping, picking out a little pouch decorated with embroidered beads and strings of larger beads hanging from it. She hands over a few shiny coins from one of her own pouches and puts the newly purchased one around her neck to join the rest.
Kosamiargi feels his leg get left alone, and glances down at Kyriah...and swiftly takes hold of a certain gryphlet's tail. "I don't think so." He leans his head down, grynning slightly. "Not only would Kirrta skin me for letting you, she'd use you as a display for the usage, too..."
Kirrta snorts sharply. "Deer or goat. Or seven good rabbit furs... either way." She seriously doubts this hen has even hunted before, much less made a decent kill. She thinks a moment, then grins. "Or a wingspan of good chain will get you two."
Khasra cocks his head at his mate.. Chain?
Kyriah sneezes again, it looks like he dosen't understand the words, but the look on his fathers face is menacing enough. He looks cowed for just long enough for Kosa to look back to the hens, then with a sharp jerk, he dashes off accross the snow between the two hens at top speed. His squeal of joy is loud and shrill as he streaks across the snow. He dashes around the pots, avoiding them for the moment until he spots another kit, and skids to a sloppy halt.
Ceylana looks up at the darkening sky, the light practically gone from the set suns. She starts heading back over towards the firepits to finish last minute preparations for the display tonight. She calls skrees lightly to a few other Windhaveners as she heads that way, each one caled too wrapping up what they were doing quickly and following suit. By the time Ceylana reaches the guarded triangle of space, she has five other grypons in tow.
Ja'hira spreads her wings, twisting her head around to gauge the distance from tip to tip. Looking back, she taps a talon against her beak,"And where would I be gettin' chain, eh?" If worst came to worst, it seemed lke the type of thing she could steal without anybody noticing, although it was tempting to wing off and attempt a hunting expedition. No, quicker to find the sundry items available in the festival's limits.
Seeing the Windhaven mages heading with purpose to the firepits, word starts to slowly spread amongst gryphons and eventualy to curious others that the mages are finally going to get started it looks like. Onlookers start to make their way towards the firepits, but are stopped at a fair distance. Everyone is asked to back further away from the pits now that it's dark so they don't get hurt when things begin. No torches are lit nearby and only a few long magelights are all that's left in the center where the six gryphons now stand. Anyone flying is ask to ground themselves in the area around and above the entertainment area. Odd, but the pits look like they are almost glowing. Almost. It must be a trick of the eye.
Khasra watches the flow of gryphons move toward the firepits.. "Kirrta, close up.. it looks like they'll be starting." He scoops up Hokuten with a grin.
Dove flies in and lands when she gets close enough to check on what the commotion is about. She walks up, squeezing her smaller white form between others to get a close up look. She looks around, "What's going on?" She's shusshed by one gryphon as another answers in a loud whisper, "The mages are getting ready for something." That gryphon is also shussed. Dove looks around still, before noting the mages in the open area. She shusses herself and watches.
Kirrta gape-grins broady. "You get to sssolve that problem." She glances over at her mate, and chirrks sharply! "You find the goods, we make the trade. I'm closing for tonight." She folds canvass over the pots, and nods to one of the other Shkrill nearby, to keep watch over the small supply, and turns away from Ja'hira, to join the drake and child.
Kyriah pads off to follow Hokuten, as he is carried by Hkasra, padding earily along in the snow. He falls in step behind Kirrta and calls up at the other kit, rar-arar-chiit?
Khasra doesn't quite carry his chick, the little one getting too heavy for that by now.. he just gives the chick a nudge in the right directly every so often.
Kosamiargi follows behind, close enough to keep an eye on his gryphlet, but yet still just meandering along to see what all is going on...
Kyriah bounds right up along side the strange kit and mantles his wings in play. He leaps, then rars again, offering to play with the kit. He shoulders against the other gryphlet gently, trying to get him to play.
Ja'hira rises and stretches her hindlegs, getting out the sleepy feeling in her paws before trotting off in the direction everyone else is heading. Might as well take a seat and watch the show before solving the problem of where to get chain. Keeping away from the main body, she takes a seat well off, once again all prim and proper in her posture.
Hokuten lunges toward the other gryphlet, eager enough to play, but Khasra fences him in. "Not now, Hokuten," he growls, tugging him along. "You can play later.. this is going to be better than play."
Kyriah braces for impact and play... but then it never comes. His ears droop and his tail drops to the snow as he pads now silently along after the other gryphs. He tries to keep the other diminutive drake in sight, but he finds Khasra's paws in the way more often than not. He gets the gist, and waits for Kosa, head down and looking dejected.
Kirrta pads along with the small group, finding Hokuten's eagerness to play amusing... obviously getting out somewhere else like this is good for the little one. And good for her, too... she's hardly seeing any red, still, from the aggrevating hen. "You sssaw her..." she croaks quietly to Khasra, after taking a couple of bounding strides to catch up with him, and help fence the energetic Hokuten in. "... she'll go steal some chain or sssomething, somewhere. Rrrrr... why do they come to me?"
Ceylana nods to the other five with her and they spread out, one each to a pit, one each in between to form a triangle. She nods to another male gryphon nearby who skrees for attention. "The Fire display is about to begin in the entertainment area." He takes wing and flies off across the merchant's area, as another heads off towards the sleeping area. The same message can be heard echoing as it is announced there on wing.
Khasra chuckles and nods at Kirrta. "be glad she's not going to steal one of your firepots," he rumbles with a grin. "I don't think it occured to her, though." He herds the kit to a nice open spot not too far from the display, the field already crowded with arriving gryphons.
Time for some show and flare. As if orchestrated, which it is, Ceylanan flares her wings out suddenly, the other mages doing it a second later in unison. They hold the position, letting everyone assembled know the show has begun. Shhssing noises can be heard as the hum of noise quiets away to near nothingness.
Khasra quickly directs Hokuten's attention to the firepit with a grin.. he'll love this.
Kirrta chrrrs. "I sort of wish she'd try... I'd have a good excuse to pinion her... oohhh... they're ssstarting!"
Kyriah sits where he was when Hokuten got pulled away, waiting for Kosa to catch up. He looks crushed or rejected. As his father approaches he flits his ears and leaps, falling into step with him. His chatter is obvious in the silence as he wanders closer and closer to the firepits. Curisoity draws him closer but the display of the hen and other mages makes him warry.
Kosamiargi chuckles softly, and picks Kyriah back up again, settling him back between two large black wings. "There. Settle and be comfortable again." He pads up a bit closer, nudging up right against Kirrta. "What's this about, anyway?" He asks softly...
Kyriah snuggles down into his fathers plumage and yawns. Warm... safe.... Comfsnxxx.... snoring is quickly heard from Kosa's back.
Kirrta chrrfs, and nips lightly at Kosa's shoulder... but it's a playful move, and she leans against him lightly. "They're going to do some big fire thing..." she croaks. The way she says 'fire' is... almost unsettling.
Khasra laughs softly and clicks his beak at Koso. "You might want to wake your little one..."
In unison, all six gryphons slowly lower their wings back to their backs after the hush has fallen. Good, they have everyone's attention. Ceylana trusts the others to make sure no one is flying above or too close to the pits or in between besides the mages. The three mages stand on the inside of the pits, each one facing outwards. The ones in between are also inside the line, facing outwards. Ceylana starts chanting by herself softly, slowly. One can hear the melody, but can not make out the words. The pit before her starts to glow. The second mage at her own pit starts to chant. Her pit begins to glow. The third one begins to chant. His pit begins to glow.
Kosamiargi glances back toward Kyriah, and gives a little shake. "Hmm....Wake up, you..."
Kirrta stares eagerly, practically trembling with excitement... she may be even more delighted by this than the gryphlets, actually!
Kyriah snorts awake and snaps at Kosa for waking him up at ... night? He looks around fully expecting it to be dark out and seeing instead a bright light from somewhere. He chirrps? and peers around his father's head (been drinking too much muddy water, Kosa!) and finally gets a view of the firepits. He creeps farther forward, eager.
Dove can feel the magics growing. She is pretty sure she knows the feeling running through those mages right about now. She sits back quietly to watch.
The mages in between the pits start chanting as one, their words subtely different from whatever it is the pit mages are chanting. The air all around begins to warm, bringing a welcome distraction from the night's chill air. All three pits are glowing, as if lit from within. The marks and glyphs glow and shimmer, almost as if dancing. Little by little, they flare up into a little flame. Hundreds of little flames fill each pit. They sway back and forth to the humming. Half from each pit begin to move, half again going one way, the other half again going the other way each pit reaching for the other two with tendrils of flame kept in check by the chanting mages.
Kyriah stares, transfixed and silent. For once.
Hokuten snaps upright, eyes glittering faintly in the orange light.. obviously, he shares his mother's facination with fire.
Kirrta cooos faintly, feathers slicking, pupils wide, her beak opened a touch. Fiiiiire.... bright glimmering burning glows and flames!
Slowly, the tendrils of little dancing flames reach out and touch each other, forming a triangle of flame around the six mages within. The chanting continues for a few minutes after the triangle is fully formed. Without warning Ceylana's chant changes. It gets harsher and rougher, with a more demanding tone to it. Her pit flames flare up and down in response to this change. The second mage's chant continues as do her flames. The third repeats and the same happens, but the line mages do not change their chant. Soon, the flames are rippling up and down in the pits and down the lines between each.
Khasra gives a soft whistle, barely blinking as the flames dance and writhe at the mages' command. He cups his wing over Kirrta almost idly, sensing her excitement at the scene, and even Hokuten is silent and motionless as though fascinated by hypnotic, dancing fire.
Some dragons nearby mutter amongst themselves. It seems the mastery over fire these mages have is impressing them. "...Viktiss...fire...."
Kirrta whispers a soft, low hisss of pleasure... probably more at the dancing, climbing flames than at Khasra's wing over her back... but she still leans up closer against him, and chrrrrs, dipping her head briefly to nuzzle Hokuten's neck, then back up to watch the display.
Opposing chants from pit and line mages create a new melody, a new rhythm. They fire flares to it, growing higher here. Higher there. Soon, the mages cannot be seen ,the flames are so high, they are a wall of dancing fire. The lines mages shift their chanting ever so subtley, the melody not broken. Shadows seem to take form in the flames. Shapes that move and writhe in the fire. Dancers take form. Gryphons of fire on the wing, dancing in the clouds of flame.
Dove can't help but stare at the level of control these mages are having on their spells.
Kosamiargi watches on in pure amazement, beak held slightly open in awe. He'd heard well enough such magics, had even seen...and felt...some types before....but this!
Kirrta's beak gapes, and she stares wide-eyed... "Oooohh.... burn...." she whispers, almost unheard... transfixed by the burning images.
Khasra hisses in a sharp intake of breath, watching the shadow-gryphons dance.. like father, like son, both sets of eyes staring in facination with the amazing display. Barely aware of the warmth of his mate beside him.
The chanting melody guides the dancers in a ballet. It grows louder as the flames grow brighter as the dancers fly faster. As if on cue, the gryphons break in mid-dance like leaves scattering to a wind, half on each wall flying directly to the base of the pit on either side in unison. She chanting hits a fevered pitch and ends with a skree'd command. The pits flare twice as high, pulling the firey curtain up and in, showing the sweating mages inside. All six have spread their wings again and hold it as the flames drop back down to a normal level of height for a bonfire of that size. All six mages hold their positions for a little longer, to be sure the spell has fully disipated before standing down, wings folding back to their backs.
Kirrta skreeeks at the creshendo of flame and sound and heat, flaring and puffing up, excited and amazed!
Khasra hisses in surprise as the flames explode upward and away, leaving him blinking dry eyes as the mages present themselves. He shakes his head a bit, as if clearing it, silent as they stand down.. then lets out a powerful SKREE for the mages, joining a swelling roar of approval for the show!
Ceylana turns to walk back to the center of the triangle along with the other five mages. All are panting heavily and look suddenly very very tired. They talk quietly amongst themselves quickly before turning to wingwave to the cheers of the crowd. The same Windhaveners who were doing crowd control earlier continue their vigil so the mages do not get swamped by anyone while they at least catch their breaths.
Once she gets her breath back, Kirrta skreeeeees in pure pleasure at the amazing display, joining with her mate, and the rest of the crowd, absolutely amazed and thrilled!
Hokuten bounds around his parents as the cheer goes up, ever-watchful in case more fire shows up. He skrees his shrill cries as eagerly as anyone, though.
Dove skrees in enjoyment too. That was just amazing! Gryphons, dragons, centaurs and the lie are all cheering, skreeing, roaring, whatever. The sheer cacophony of noise can probably be heard all the way back to the three aeries no doubt.
Kirrta is going to dream of setting gryphons on fire... like... Ja'hira, probably. Rrrr... burning and screaming and flaping all beautiful like that...
Ceylana looks to the other mages and nods, all looking very worn out. They nod back and all head silently out through the cheering crowds back to the mages tent for some much needed rest now. The revelers, sensing that they won't get any more out of the mages tonight slowly break off into smaller groups of revelers. The food merchants are ready and waiting, with food of all sorts and more types of drink than one thought possible.
Khasra purrrs and gathers up his family with a grin.. "That was incredible," he murmurs, winghugging Kirrta tightly..